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UK Championship 2024: Barry Hawkins outlasts Mark Allen in early-morning epic to reach maiden final in York

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After a five-hour epic in York, Barry Hawkins is through to his first ever UK Championship final with a 6-5 victory over world No. 3 Mark Allen. The Hawk raced from 4-2 down to complete a tense win and set up Sunday's final with Judd Trump, who earlier beat Kyren Wilson. He will have less than 12 hours to recover from an exhausting night at the Barbican with the final due to start at 13:00.

'He can barely stand up!' - Hawkins outlasts Allen after 'epic battle' to reach final

Video credit: TNT Sports

Barry Hawkins secured his place in the UK Championship final with a 6-5 victory over Mark Allen, following a tense, early-morning finish at the Barbican.

The four-time ranking title winner edged out a nervy contest lasting over five gripping hours, setting up a rematch of the 2023 European Masters final with Judd Trump, who earlier overcame world champion Kyren Wilson.

The 45-year-old fought back from 4-2 down to take four of the final five frames to make his maiden UK Championship final, finally clinching victory after a 43-minute decider, with the match ending at 00:58 UK time.

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He will have less than 12 hours to recover from an exhausting night with Sunday's final beginning at 13:00.

Hawkins looked in control of a mistake-ridden opener until a missed red while holding a 40-point lead allowed Allen back into contention. A lengthy safety battle ensued before the marathon frame, lasting 55 minutes, was settled when Hawkins pounced after Allen narrowly missed a crucial brown.

That set the tone for what would be a long night at the Barbican, where tactical nous would prove critical.

The second frame came down to another battle of the colours, with the brown proving decisive once more. This time, Allen made no mistake with a classy pot to get on the scoreboard.

The pattern of missing unexpectedly continued in frame three as Allen, holding a 47-point lead, was left to rue a missed red. Hawkins capitalised with his strong safety game to ultimately prevail.

Still licking his wounds from his previous error, a laboured Allen carefully pieced together a break of 50, averaging almost 40 seconds with each shot, before allowing Hawkins back in. However, the Englishman missed a cut on the yellow, allowing Allen to sweep up the colours and level the match at 2-2 at the interval.

Allen, searching for his 12th ranking title, took the lead for the first time in the contest with a break of 64.

'Wow!' - Allen sinks delicate long red to take two-frame lead in semi

Video credit: TNT Sports

The world No. 3 opened up a two-frame gap after edging another tense frame, during which Allen appeared to have a word with the referee about the table, which has come in for criticism this week by Judd Trump, Neil Robertson and Kyren Wilson.

Nevertheless, he sealed the frame with a mesmerising pot on the final red, as the match time crept beyond three hours.

Determined to inject more pace into the game, Hawkins began to find some form with a frame-winning break of 57 in under 15 minutes and followed it up with 84 to fire back at 4-4.

Normal service resumed though, and with little happening in frame nine a tired-looking Allen seemed to offer his opponent a re-rack despite being out of a stalemate in baulk. His subsequent break of 40 and a 5-4 lead made the gesture appear even more puzzling.

The match always seemed destined to come down to a decider and Hawkins duly delivered, setting up a dramatic midnight climax with a clinical century of 114.

'My goodness’ – Allen pulls off incredible snooker in gripping decider as clock ticks past midnight

Video credit: TNT Sports

The decider proved to be a rollercoaster of emotions for both players, marked by moments of genius and misfortune.

With the frame tied at 44-44, an opportunity was presented to Hawkins, and he held his nerve to pot a superb long red and swept up the colours to complete a memorable win.

Hawkins stunned the world No. 2 Trump in Germany in August 2023 and will be looking to spring another upset on Sunday.

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